Drum rolling device



Feb. 17,- 1942. M. O\NEN 2,273,657

DRUM ROLLING DEVICE Filed Jxily 28, 1941 I lnventor Mark Owen attorney Patented Feb. 17, 1942 DRUM ROLLING DEVICE Mark Owen, Seattle, Wash., assignor to Northern Stevedores, 1110., Seattle, Wash., a corporation of Washington Application July 28, 1941, Serial No. 404,347

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a stevedoring device, and is particularly intended to facilitate the handling, by rolling, of heavy drums or barrels.

In general it is contemplated to provide a device in the nature of a yoke engageable within whereby the drum can be pulled, or eased down an incline. Such devices. are known, but all those of which I am awarehave been complicated and expensive, not sufficiently rugged, and for these and other reasons not suitable to such uses as the handling of heavy oil drums and the like. It is the object of this invention generally to improve such prior devices by making them materially simpler, cheaper, and more rugged, more easily applied and detached, and more convenient in use.

More especially, and as related to convenience, it is an object to provide a device of the general nature indicated, wherein all parts are automatically held by engagement with the drum in posithe chimes at the opposite ends of the drum,

tion such that the pull on the drum is in a genwill be more particularly defined by the claims which terminate the same.

In the accompanying drawing my invention is shown in a form of construction which is at present preferred by me, it beingunderstood, however, that various changes may be made in the form, character, and arrangement of the parts without departure from the spirit of the invention as defined in the claims.

Figure 1 is a perspective view, parts being broken away, showing the invention in use.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device, with parts broken away, shown in operative, relation to a drum.

Figure 3 is a section transversely through the handle, showing a detail of construction.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2, showing the device in the position with respect to the drum that it may occupy temporarily for rolling the drum down an incline.

iii

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 2, illustrating a modified form of the device.

A drum in the nature of an oil drum is shown by way of illustrating the manner of use of the invention, but of course it will be understood that any style of drum, barrel or cask may be handled by the use of the invention, provided it has a chime projecting beyond its head. Thus the drum '1 is provided with the heads H and i2, inset slightly from the ends of the periphery to define the chimes l3 and M, and peripheral flanges 15 define tracks whereon the drum may roll. In Figure 1 the drum is indicated as rolling along a gangway or ramp 8.

In its preferred form the invention is embodied in a yoke of generally U shape, which may be formed of a single piece of spring metal, indicated at I. Its ends II and I2 are spread apart sufliciently that by a little outward forcing they may straddle or encompass the ends of the drum 1, and upon the inner sides of these ends are carried rollers 2! and 22, respectively, which are generally coaxial, which face inwardly, and which engage within the chimes 7 3 and 14, respectively. While inwardly directed contact members other than rollers may be employed, it will be understood that rollers would normally be employed, and are preferred.

The device thus far described has a certain degree of advantage over prior devices in that it is extremely simple, cheap, convenient, and rugged. With the rollers 2i engaged within the chimes of the drum, the bottom of the U,'as indicated at 15, serves as a handle, by which the drum can be pulled along, in the direction of the arrow A (Figure 1), or can be eased down an incline in the opposite direction. However, upon any slackening of the pull the rollers 22 would tend to roll down the chimes toward the bottom, and upon resumption of the pull there would be some interval necessary to take up slack, and some slight shock. The stevedore would not, at all times, have full control over the drum, and accidents might result. It is much preferred, therefore, that the rollers 2! be supported always at an elevation such that they liegenerally in a radius through the drum extended through the handle l5.

To the latter end I provide rollers 3i and 32, supported from the yoke by means such as the branches !3 and it, These branches I3 and M are directed, somewhat upwardly and inwardly from the corresponding ends H and $2, to the end that the rollers 3| and 32 engage the outer periphery of the drum somewhat inwardly from its ends, and more or less in the top portion of the drums periphery. Otherwise expressed, and as may be seen in Figure 2, the rollers 3| and 32 are spaced angularly of the drum from the rollers 2|, and are also spaced inwardly therefrom, as may be seen in Figure 1. So positioned, they support the rollers 2| at the proper elevation with relation to the center of the drum and the handle I 5, so that the rollers 2| never drop down, yet the rollers 2| and 22 are not rigidly clamped in engagement with the inside of the peripheries of their respective chimes.

If the device is to be used upon casks, drums, etc., of widely varying diameters, adjustment of the vertical spacing of the rollers 3|, 32 from the rollers 2|, 22 may be suitably provided for. Ordinarily it is preferable that diiferent devices be used for widely differing drums, etc.

It is desirable to avoid close confinement or clamping of the chime-engaging rollers with their chimes, as referred to above, for the reason that, in efiecting a change of direction as the drum rolls, it is desirable to pull sidewise on the handle l5, in the direction, let us say, of the arrow B, and when this occurs the pullis transmitted to the drum mainly by the roller 22, and it is desirable that the roller 2| move inwardly toward the center of the drum and away from its chime 13. However, to assist further in changing the direction of the drum I provide lugs H and I8, supported upon the respective ends II and |2 of the yoke, as by welding, but so positioned, each with respect to its chime-engaging roller 2| or 22, that when the roller is engaged within the chime the corresponding lug is spaced some appreciable distance outwardly from the periphery of the drum, as may be clearly seen in Figures 1 and 2. In this way inward movement of the roller 2| is permitted, when the pull on the handle is in the direction of the arrow B, yet the lug U will come into contact with the periphery of the drum, and the push through the lug I! will assist the pull through the lug I] will assist the pull through the roller 22 in changing the direction of the drum.

Two rollers 3| and 32 have been referred to, and preferably would be employed, but it will be understood, of course, that these typify a contact device (for one only may be employed) or contact devices of any suitable nature, positioned as has already been described.

It will be noted that a tension spring 6 has been shown connected to draw together the ends II and I2 of the yoke Such a spring may be employed, if desired, or may be omitted if the spring force of the yoke itself is deemed inadequate.

Likewise I have shown a hand grip 9 located inside the handle l5, and supported therefrom by stifi" springs 90 encircling the supporting rivet shanks 9!. This affords a shock absorbing connection between the hand grip 9 and the handle l5. Any other suitable shock absorbing arrangement may be employed, or there need be no such shock absorbing connection, so far as the principles of the invention are concerned. Its employment or omission is a matter of choice and convenience.

The device is intended to be used in pulling the drum, in the direction of the arrow A in Figure 1. Sometimes, however, the drums cannot be pulled, as they will tend to roll down an incline and to overrun anyone in front of the drums. By locating the rollers 3| and 32 angularly from the rollers 2| and 22 by a suniciently small amount it is possible, when the drum tends to overrun the puller, to stand aside, swing the handle over the drum, and then to use the handle to hold back the drum, the parts then being in the position shown in Figure 4.

Stevedores are accustomed to push the drums, and while the use of the device in this manner is not recommended, it is possible to employ the device for pushing the drums, by providing a third set of rollers 4| (as seen in Figure 5) carried upon a branch I9, supported upon the yoke and spaced angularly from the chime-engaging rollers 2| and 22, but at the opposite side of the yoke from the rollers 3| and 32. It should be noted that the three rollers 2|, 3| and 4| are so located that never do more than two such rollers at any given end of the drum engage the drum. For pushing, the rollers 3| and 4| would engage the drum, and the roller 2| would be moved inwardly away from contact with the inside of the chimes. For pulling, the roller 2| would engage the chime, and probably the roller 3|, but the roller 4| would then be lifted from engagement with the periphery of the drum. This avoids any binding contact with the drum, or clamping action, and gives greater flexibility and freedom in use, particularly for effecting turning of the direction of rolling of the drum.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. A drum roller comprising two connected arms urged together but capable of being spaced apart to encompass the ends of a drum, a roller mounted upon each such arm in planes generally parallel to the drums heads, and engageable within the chimes, a handle connected to said arms and spaced outwardly of the drum, and a contact member supported from the arms in position to ride upon the top of the drum, and thereby to support the rollers approximately in a radius of the drum extended through the handle.

2. A drum roller comprising two connected arms urged together but capable of being spaced apart to encompass the ends of a drum, a roller mounted upon each such arm in planes generally parallel to the drums heads, and engageable within the chimes, a handle connected to said arms and spaced outwardly of the drum, and a lug upon each arm, spaced from the drums periphery when the rollers are engaged within the chimes, but sufliciently close to be engageable therewith by a sidewise pull upon the handle, thereby to assist the opposite roller in changing the drums direction, as it rolls.

3. A drum roller comprising two connected arms urged together but capable of being spaced apart to encompass the ends of a drum, a roller mounted upon each such arm in planes generally parallel to the drums heads, and engageable within the chimes, a handle connected to said arms and spaced outwardly of the drum, and a pair of rollers supported one from each of the arms, spaced inwardly from the ends of the drum, and spaced angularly from the chime-engaging rollers to rest upon the top of the di um, and thereby to position the chime-engaging rollers approximately in a radius of the drum extended through the handle.

4. A drum roller comprising two connected arms urged together but capable of being spaced apart to encompass the ends of a drum, a roller mounted upon each such arm in planes generally parallel to the drums heads, and engageable Within the chimes, a handle connected to said arms and spaced outwardly of the drum, a pair of rollers supported one from each of the arms,

spaced inwardly from the ends of the drum, and spaced angularly from the chime-engaging rollers to rest upon the top of the drum, and thereby to position the chime-engaging rollers approximately in a radius of the drum extended through the handle, and a second pair of rollers supported one from each of the arms, spaced inwardly from the ends of the drum, and angularly from the chime-engaging rollers, but at the oppositeside of the arms from the top-engaging rollers, to engage the lower rear periphery of the drum, for pushing.

5. A drum roller comprising a yoke of spring metal formed in U-shape, with the ends of its arms spread to encompass, when expanded, the ends of a drum, two rollers, generally coaxial, one mounted upon each such end, and engageable within the chime of the drum by the inwardly-acting spring force of the arms, the bottom of the U constituting a handle for pulling the drum, an inwardly directed branch rigid with each arm, and a roller upon each branch in position to ride upon the top of the drum, distant from the first rollers, and thereby to support said chime-engaging rollers approximately in a radius of the drum extended through the handle.

6. A drum roller comprisinga yoke of spring metal formed in U-shape, with the ends of its arms spread to encompass, when expanded, the ends of a drum, two rollers, generally coaxial, one mounted upon each such end, and engageable within the chime of the drum by the in- Wardly-acting spring force of the arms, the bottom of the U constituting a handle for pulling the drum, and a lug upon each arm, spaced from the drum when the rollers are engaged with the chimes, but engageable therewith to assist in changing direction of the drum, by a sidewise pull upon the handle.

r 7. A drum roller comprising two connected arms urged together but capable of being spaced apart to encompass the ends of a drum, a roller mounted upon each such arm in planes generally parallel to the drums heads, and engageable within the chimes, a handle connected to said within the chime of the drum by the inwardlyacting spring force of the arms, the bottom of the U constituting a handle for pulling the drum, a hand grip disposed inside the handle, and shock absorbing means acting therebetween.

MARK OWEN. 

